iPhone 18 Pro Models Again Rumored to Feature Under-Screen Face ID

Tuesday May 13, 2025 7:23 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

While the iPhone 17 Pro models are still around four months away, there are already rumors about next year's iPhone 18 Pro models.

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple
The latest word comes from Counterpoint Research vice president Ross Young, who has a good track record with display-related information for future Apple products. In a social media post today, he relayed more information that suggests the iPhone 18 Pro models will be equipped with an under-screen Face ID system.

"At the SID Business Conference today, OTI Lumionics CEO Michael Helander confirmed that they expect phones with under panel Face ID using their materials to be available for sale in 2026," wrote Young. "This suggests that iPhone 18 Pro models will have under panel Face ID with other brands and models to follow."

Earlier this month, The Information's Wayne Ma also reported that iPhone 18 Pro models will feature under-screen Face ID. He said the devices will have only a small hole in the top-left corner of the screen, to accommodate the front camera. The devices will no longer have a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen, according to the report, but is unclear if that means the Dynamic Island feature will be discontinued.

Apple should release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.

Tags: Face ID Guide, iPhone 18, Ross Young

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

'Arguably Better Than Face ID': the iPhone Duo Touch ID Tip to Try

Saturday October 24, 2026 4:48 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

An iPhone Duo owner has shared a Touch ID tip on Reddit they claim is "arguably better than Face ID." It involves registering the lowest part of your index finger instead of the pad of your fingertip. The poster says this segment rests naturally against the side button during pickup and unlocks the phone as you lift it, and it seems at least some users agree. The tip has since been shared on...

• 142 comments

iPhone Duo 2 Prototypes Include Under-Display Face ID

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:46 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple's second-generation iPhone Duo could gain Face ID, with prototypes already incorporating the technology beneath the outer display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest episode of his "Power On" podcast, Gurman described Apple's work on adding facial authentication technology to its foldable iPhone. The company is said to be testing the hardware for a successor expected...

• 158 comments

iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID

Wednesday October 21, 2026 4:27 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Touch ID on the iPhone Duo might end up being frustrating for some users, based on media reviews that came out today. Multiple reviewers found Touch ID to be slow to unlock, which can be jarring coming from Face ID. According to Marques Brownlee, Apple added an intentional delay to "every single" Touch ID unlock. After you touch a finger to the side button to unlock, it pauses on the Lock...

• 219 comments

Top Rated Comments

Andy_2341

20 months ago

He said the devices will have only a small hole in the top-left corner of the screen ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/03/iphone-18-pro-under-screen-face-id-rumor/'), to accommodate the front camera. The devices will no longer have a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen, according to the report, but is unclear if that means the Dynamic Island feature will be discontinued.

Honestly, I’d rather have Dynamic Island or even a notch than an off-center, lone cutout.

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

quietstormSD

20 months ago

I'm still waiting for the under screen Touch ID that was supposed to come out with the iPhone X.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

techfreak23

20 months ago

That off center hole punch seems really sketchy. Sounds like a terrible idea just to be different. I doubt Apple would do something like that since they’re generally all about symmetry with most things. They have broken that rule a few times though…

Personally, I don’t mind the notch, especially the second iteration of it. I get why some people do, but I don’t understand why they are so angry about it. An off center hole punch would be more of an eyesore to me than the notch is.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MacBH928

20 months ago

what we want is under screen TOUCH ID

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

zachz

20 months ago

FaceID under the screen would be cool as long as it’s just as effective as it is now. But, a hole punch camera in the top left sounds terrible in my opinion. Dynamic Island is too great of a feature.

I’ve used both iterations of the notch, currently have Dynamic Island, plus a hole punch (Galaxy S24) and an under the screen camera (Fold 3) and I still prefer Dynamic Island. I absolutely love the software features of it and I probably use it the most out of every other feature that isn’t calling or texting.

If they’re going under the screen for FaceID I’d rather they figure something else out or at least keep it centred and have Dynamic Island stay software wise. Surely FaceID can be off centre since it works sideways, upside down, angled, etc.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)